How to Edit Photos

Download a photo editing app. You can find numerous free photo editing apps on the Google Play Store for Android or the App Store for iPhone and iPad. If you want to explore different styles, download a few apps and experiment with their effects. Here are some recommendations for you:

• Snapseed (Free)
• PicsArt (Free)
• VSCO (Free)
• Instagram (Free)
• Adobe Photoshop Express (Free)

Open the photo editing app. After downloading and installing the app from the App Store or Google Play Store, simply tap on the app icon on your home screen or app menu to launch it.

Take a photo or select one. Most apps allow you to either capture a new photo (look for a camera icon) or choose an existing one from your gallery (search for a "+" icon). Your selected image will appear in the center, with options and icons displayed above or below the screen.

Choose a filter. While each app is unique, many, like Instagram, offer "filters" or "lenses" that handle the editing for you. Look for tabs or icons below or above the preview image to explore editing options. Most photo editing apps display filters as small thumbnail previews beneath the image. You can also adjust the intensity of the filter using a slider or slider icon.

Adjust the exposure. In photography, exposure refers to the amount of light in a photo. If the image is too dark, increase the exposure. Conversely, if you want a darker image, reduce the exposure.

Adjust the saturation. Some apps let you tweak the saturation, or the intensity of colors in the image. Boosting saturation can make colors pop and give the photo a more vibrant look. However, excessive saturation can make the image appear heavy or cartoonish.

Crop the image. This is an effective way to draw attention to the subject by removing distracting background elements. The crop tool is usually represented by a square icon with two right angles. To crop, select the tool and drag the corners inward to center the subject in the highlighted area, then tap the confirmation icon to apply the changes.

• Many apps display horizontal and vertical grid lines dividing the image into thirds. Use these lines to align your composition. Position the subject or key elements along these lines or their intersections, following the rule of thirds in photography.

Experiment with filters and effects. Each app is unique; when using a new app, take time to explore and test all available options to understand its editing capabilities.

• Some filters may require payment. If you see a lock icon or dollar sign, you’ll need to purchase access to use them.

Install photo editing software. While basic edits can be done with programs like Picasa and Instagram, advanced editing software is ideal for more impressive results. Adobe Photoshop is the industry standard, but you don’t need a paid subscription to access powerful tools. Consider GIMP, a free, open-source photo editor with many features similar to Photoshop and available for free download.

Save images to your computer. After installing editing software, prepare your photos for editing. If using a digital camera, transfer images via an SD card or USB. For smartphone photos, save them to cloud services like iCloud, Google Photos, or Dropbox for easy access on your computer.

• High-resolution images are preferable for editing.

Crop the image. Cropping enhances focus on the subject by removing unnecessary background. Click the square icon with two right angles in the left toolbar. Then, click and drag the square around the subject. Adjust the corners to refine the highlighted area. Click the center of the image or the checkmark icon to confirm the crop.

• While cropping, you’ll see horizontal and vertical lines dividing the image into thirds. Align the subject or other elements along these lines to improve composition, following the rule of thirds in photography.

Adjust contrast. Contrast is a common setting in photo editing software. Increasing contrast makes whites brighter and darks darker, giving the image a more striking and clear appearance. However, be cautious: excessive contrast can result in the loss of fine details.

• In Photoshop, click the half-black, half-white sun icon on the right side above the Layers panel to add a brightness/contrast adjustment layer. Click the layer and use the sliders to adjust brightness and contrast.
• In GIMP, select Brightness and Contrast from the Colors menu at the top. Use the sliders to adjust, then click Ok.

Modify saturation. Saturation determines the intensity of colors in an image, and adjusting it is a common feature in photo editing tools. Sometimes, reducing saturation (toward black and white) or increasing it can enhance the image. Experiment to see the effect.

• In Photoshop, click the hue/saturation icon or the vibrancy triangle above the Layers panel to add an adjustment layer. Use the sliders to tweak saturation, lightness, or hue.
• In GIMP, choose Saturation from the Colors menu. Adjust the saturation slider and click Ok.

Adjust color balance. You can tweak color balance to alter the hues in shadows, midtones, and highlights. Use the Hue slider in Hue & Saturation for more dramatic color shifts.

• In Photoshop, click the balance scale icon above the Layers panel to add a color balance adjustment layer. Select "Shadows," "Midtones," or "Highlights" and use the sliders to adjust colors.
• In GIMP, select Color Balance from the Colors menu. Choose "Shadows," "Midtones," or "Highlights" and adjust the sliders, then click Ok.

Adjust levels. The Levels tool lets you modify tonal range and contrast. In Photoshop, click the histogram icon to add a Levels adjustment layer, or select Levels from the Colors menu in GIMP. Levels include input and output sliders.

• Drag the black input slider right to darken shadows. Drag the black output slider right to limit darkness.
• Move the gray input slider left to brighten midtones or right to darken them.
• Slide the white input slider left to increase brightness. Drag the white output slider left to limit brightness.

Use blur and sharpen filters carefully. You can find Blur and Sharpen/Enhance filters in the Filters menu at the top of GIMP and Photoshop. Be cautious with the amount of blur or sharpness you apply. Instead of applying filters to the entire image, use tools like marquee, ellipse, lasso, or quick selection to target specific areas.

• When editing in Photoshop or GIMP, right-click the layer in the Layers panel and select Duplicate. This creates a backup of the original layer in case your edits don’t turn out as expected.

Utilize the Brush and Eraser tools. The Brush tool allows you to paint, add colors, or apply patterns, while the Eraser removes unwanted elements. The Brush tool is represented by a paintbrush icon in both Photoshop and GIMP.

• Below the toolbar, you’ll see two overlapping rectangles. The top rectangle is the primary color, and the bottom is the secondary color. Click the top rectangle to choose a color from the color spectrum or use the eyedropper tool to select a color directly from the image.
• In Photoshop, the Brush menu appears above the left toolbar. Click the dark or faded circle icon to access brush settings. In GIMP, the Brush menu is below the left toolbar. Select a brush type, adjust size, and hardness using the sliders.
• You can use various brush types with the Eraser, Healing, and Clone Stamp tools.
• Adjust the Opacity slider to control the transparency or intensity of your brush strokes.

Use the Clone Stamp and Healing tools. These tools are effective for removing small imperfections. The Healing tool is represented by a band-aid icon, and the Clone Stamp by a stamp icon in both Photoshop and GIMP.

• To use the Healing tool, select it and choose a brush size from the menu above or below the toolbar. Click on the area you want to fix, and the tool will blend it with surrounding colors and textures.
• For the Clone Stamp tool, select it and choose a brush size. In Photoshop, hold the "Command" key (Mac) or "Ctrl" key (Windows) and click to sample an area. In GIMP, hold "Ctrl" and click to sample. Then, click elsewhere to apply the sampled area.

and paste parts of an image. Photoshop and GIMP offer several tools for copying, cutting, and pasting image sections. These include:

• Marquee and Ellipse tools: Represented by dotted rectangle or oval icons, these tools allow you to select rectangular or oval areas by clicking and dragging.
• Lasso tool: Shown as a lasso icon, this tool lets you draw freeform selections around any part of the image.
• Magic Wand tool: Represented by a wand icon, this tool automatically selects areas based on color or shape.
• Add or subtract from selections: After creating a selection, use the add or subtract icons (two overlapping or separate squares) to refine your selection.
• and paste selections: Once a selection is made, click in the Edit menu, then Paste to place it as a new layer. Use the Move tool to reposition the selection. You can also copy selections between different images.